“Hi, Gilda,” Dragon said, entering a well-lit room that was guarded by several of Gabriel’s personal guards.

Raising her head from the book she was reading, the princess gave him a small smile. “I’m glad to see you’re feeling better—” Her greeting was cut short when Valerian followed Dragon into the room. Her subdued expression changed immediately into hopeful.

Valerian strode toward her. “Are they treating you well?” he asked, taking her in his arms.

“I’m fine.” She rested her head against Valerian’s chest.

Dragon hated to intrude on the moment and cleared his throat, reminding his lieutenant that he wasn’t alone. Valerian hugged the princess firmly before turning his attention to Dragon, who nodded at him.

“Gilda, this isn’t easy for any of us, but here it goes. Are you with the rebels?” Dragon walked closer to the couple. “And before Valerian says or does something he’s going to regret, I want you to know that if you are working with the Front Pro Humanity and come clean now, I’ll make sure your life is spared.”

Valerian made to move, but Gilda placed a hand on his arm. “I am not,” she said, her voice clear as she looked at Dragon.

“She’s innocent.” Valerian stepped before Dragon. “I vouch for her.” Desperation radiated from his friend.

Dragon knew the turmoil and anguish that governed Valerian’s actions because he had loved Jade even when he knew she would kill him in his sleep. He better than most understood that rational thinking didn’t apply to the affairs of the heart. Only blind faith worked.

“I believe you,” Dragon said to Gilda.

The princess’ eyes widened in surprise as she sagged against Valerian. At the same time, his friend released a long breath and what sounded much like a curse.

“Thank you,” Gilda said a moment later, wiping a tear.

“You’ll remain confined to these quarters until we find out what happened to Lauren.” Dragon smiled at her. “It’s safer for you and advantageous for us that our enemy believes we think you are responsible for the attack.” He then turned toward Valerian. “I’m afraid you can’t see her again, and don’t try to contact her in any way. We don’t know who our enemies are and must play this charade to its very end if we want to fool the rebels.”

“I understand.” Valerian dropped a chaste kiss on her head. “It’ll be over soon,” he whispered to her.

Dragon turned and walked to the door to give them a final moment of privacy.

A few seconds later, Valerian’s hand closed around Dragon’s arm. “Thank you,” he said.

There was much meaning behind those two words, and Dragon acknowledged them by laying his hand on top of Valerian’s and squeezing it.

They left Gilda’s quarters and separated. Valerian stormed off, giving the appearance that he just had a row with his High Lord. Dragon went back to the basement where Valentine and Gabriel were waiting for him.

“The Academy sent word through Laonte,” Gabriel said as soon as Dragon descended the stairs. He tilted his chin over his shoulder, drawing Dragon’s attention to the third man in the room. “Tell him what they want.”

Laonte detached himself from the column he leaned against. “We’ll travel at first light, alone. I’ll leave you at the Academy’s doorstep.”

“And in the meantime, we have received the reminder of our summoning as well,” Valentine said, opening before him a folded piece of paper. “Do you recognize the handwriting?”

Dragon took the note and scanned the text.

Do as they say or I’ll die. A shaky hand had scattered the letters across the paper before signing the note as Lauren.

“It looks like her penmanship,” Dragon said. “I have exchanged letters with the princesses on occasion, but you’ll have to confirm with Gilda. She’ll know for sure.”

“How did it go with Gilda?” Gabriel asked after releasing Laonte, who promptly stepped out.

“My lieutenant gives his word she isn’t guilty, and I trust him with my life.” Dragon dropped onto the closest sofa, letting the note fall to the cushion. “Plus, my dragon senses didn’t go off when she looked straight in my eyes and said she wasn’t a rebel.” He suddenly felt tired. “She’s being framed.”

“We thought so, too,” Valentine said.

They spent the rest of the day plotting their offensive against the rebels.

* * *

After yet another fitful night, Dragon briefly met with Valerian to inform him that he would follow Gabriel. The rehearsed words were spoken loudly enough that the group of servants lingering nearby wouldn’t have any problem hearing them. Valerian complained convincingly and left to resume his patrol duty as Dragon prepared for the day.

Gabriel and Valentine stopped by the basement to wish him good luck, and Laonte arrived soon after.

“We’ll take one of Master Martelli’s gondolas and travel to the first rendezvous spot,” Laonte informed him, and they left soon after.

The first leg of their voyage took more than an hour that seemed to drag on forever as they kept silent and looked at the vast expanse of the Sea of Tranquility. Turquoise and green meshed seamlessly with the light blue of the Celestian sky.

The hydrosaurus that Gabriel had called Rose followed them, accompanied by two smaller versions of the large marine mammal. The three of them jumped out of the water in a playful pattern, dowsing the gondola in salty water every few minutes. Dragon was grateful for the diversion or he would have gone mad waiting.

“Here it is,” Laonte finally announced, pointing his eyes at a dot in the middle of the placid waters.

Several minutes later, the dark speck grew into a small, rocky island. Laonte maneuvered the gondola toward the narrow dock protruding from the island’s crescent. Moored to the wharf was an amphibian aircar, and Laonte brought the gondola to a stop by the bulky vehicle.

Their arrival had created a wake, and the amphibian aircar bobbed too much, making it difficult for Dragon to jump from one vehicle into the other, but he managed to enter the round porthole on top of his next ride. When he slid inside, he remembered why he hated those vehicles. The space was minimal, and the bottom part of the hull was transparent, immediately triggering his claustrophobia.

“Coming in,” Laonte warned, and Dragon stepped to the side to make space for him.

Once inside, Laonte raised his hand to show him a scrap of black cloth. “Wear this.”

“You’ve gotta be kidding me.”

“It’s what the Academy required,” Gabriel’s aid answered, pressing the fabric into Dragon’s hand.

Cursing, Dragon moved as much as he could in the suffocating space to tie the blindfold over his eyes. When he was done, he felt around the edges of the cloth, now splotched with his sweat. The darkness surrounding him only amplified his fear of small spaces. “Is this truly necessary?”

“It’s just for show anyway. The Academy moves its location constantly. And even if that weren’t the case, they know you don’t need your eyes closed to track them down.”

Dragon cursed again, wiping pearls of sweat from his forehead.

“Ready?” Laonte asked, gently touching Dragon’s elbow to steer him to the right.

“Ready.” In truth, Dragon couldn’t wait a moment longer to finally put in motion his plan, and if he had to travel in that tin can blindfolded, so be it.